When you’re searching for puzzles online, the hundreds of choices can be overwhelming. Is an 18-Piece Puzzle Tray Right for You? Is it better to do 26 pieces? So, what about the topic? Would the planetary puzzle be fair?
Like any other shopping, choosing the ideal puzzle can be tough. You understand that if you choose the wrong one, your child might not appreciate this educative toy. Worse, they may despise the experience and refuse to attempt another puzzle in the future.
Imagine presenting an 18-year-old child with a puzzle of 16 to 50 pieces. Of course, the teenager will not be interested in this at all. This is because most young children of this age have the concentration, fine motor, or cognitive skills to be able to complete such challenging puzzles.
Finding the ideal difficulty level for a child of any age is key to selecting an appropriate puzzle. Additionally, issues of the child’s interests and safety must be considered. But how do you go about doing it?
Here are some things to consider that will help you narrow down your search and choose the right puzzle for your child.
Puzzle Type
Despite the fact that puzzles come in a variety of shapes and sizes, they all fall into one of two categories: inset and jigsaw.
Inset puzzles are usually made of wood, although they can also be made of foam. They are made of large, thick pieces that do not fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. In addition, all inset puzzles come with a tray or frame that holds the pieces in place. The most common kind of puzzles in this category are knob and peg puzzles, although there are also chunky puzzles without knobs.
These easy-to-learn toys are very beneficial as the first puzzle for young children.
Unlike inset puzzles, jigsaw puzzles have interlocking pieces and are available in a wide range of sizes and levels of complexity. Frame and floor puzzles, as well as 3D puzzles, are the most common types of puzzles.
Jigsaw puzzles are generally designated for children over the age of two because they are more complex than inset puzzles.
Number of Pieces
Consider having a 6-year-old put together a 9-piece frame puzzle. It will take less than a minute to finish them. On the other hand, a 400-piece puzzle is likely beyond their capabilities.
It highlights the importance of the number of puzzle pieces in fulfilling a child’s potential. One of the most important factors to consider when selecting the best puzzles for kids is the number of pieces.
Puzzles with fewer parts and easier combinations are better for younger children. As they get older, they will be able to handle more parts and complexity.
Topic
Puppy pups, a seashore scene, beautiful landscapes, and cartoon characters are just a few of the puzzle themes that could be used. In fact, a puzzle with a prominent unicorn can appeal to one child but not another.
Now, the best topic to choose is mostly determined by the age of the child as well as their personal interests.
Consider a preschooler who is given a choice of a dinosaur-themed puzzle or a mountain landscape puzzle. Which option would they choose? Regardless of the puzzle’s other merits, the dinosaur has the highest chance of winning the hand. On the other hand, 7-year-olds may enjoy more sophisticated topics such as works of art, skyscrapers, or seascapes.
The perfect image can be a major motivation for kids when it comes to putting the pieces of a puzzle together. Yes, it may even motivate your child to work on a problem that is a little more challenging than usual.
Size of Pieces
Indeed, the puzzle pieces come in a variety of sizes. So, as the rule of thumb, the younger the child, the bigger the pieces of a puzzle you should seek.
Foam puzzles often have larger, thicker parts, which are easier for little hands to manage and put together.
By the way, you may have seen puzzles labeled 3+ or something like that. In layman’s terms, it says that the puzzle is suitable for young people aged 3 years and above. The rationale for the age restriction is that the small pieces can cause suffocation in babies and newborns, who tend to keep things in their mouths.
Material
The most common materials used to make puzzles are wood, cardboard, and foam.
Cardboard easily warps and splits, especially if it is of poor quality, making it difficult for young children to work with because the pieces do not hold together well.
Although foam pieces are easier to interlock and maintain in place than cardboard, they are not recommended for toddlers due to the risk of choking on small parts.
As stated earlier, wooden puzzles are typically inset or frame puzzles and are appropriate for younger children. However, wooden toys should always be inspected before being given to youngsters, as they might be dangerous if the edges are not sanded properly.
Image Type
The image on a puzzle has a significant impact on its attractiveness and difficulty level which can range from images to drawings, cartoons, and more.
For example, photos with lots of greenery can be difficult to resolve because many parts look alike. On the other hand, it’s easy enough to put together a puzzle with graphic representations of three brilliantly colored animals, Just like the welcome back puzzle of the Grateful House.
Yes, color contrast and picture contrast are important factors to consider. In fact, having more contrast will make the puzzle easier to solve. In particular, pictures with a variety of bright colors can make puzzles more accessible to young children. This allows youngsters to strategize by detecting all pieces of similar color and putting them together.
Puzzle Shape
Most jigsaw puzzles are rectangular in shape and use traditional interlocking components. However, some of them may have one-of-a-kind shapes related to the puzzle’s theme or may be made of oddly shaped pieces.
Maybe you’ve seen a puzzle with the outline of a butterfly or a T-Rex. In addition, there are puzzles with pieces that are shaped like the states of the United States.
Specific puzzle shapes and coherent pieces are best for little ones who are new to puzzles unless the parts will move inside a frame (i.e. frame puzzle). Square or rectangular shapes have straight edges and are more predictable, while irregular shapes are more problematic.
A non-rectangular floor jigsaw puzzle with a variety of pieces can add interest to the puzzle, while also making it more complex and enjoyable for older children.
Final Thoughts
Ready to surprise your kids? When choosing a puzzle, do not forget to pay attention to your child’s abilities and interests.
Remember to think about things like the material, the amount and size of the pieces, and the style of the puzzle when choosing the one that’s best for your child. Low-contrast illustrations and sketches can become increasingly difficult for novices or young puzzlers, thus visual style is also important.
Keeping these factors in mind, it will be easy for you to choose the ideal puzzle tray for your child. Then you will have so much fun watching them play with this instructable toy. Certainly, it will help children develop a variety of important life skills, such as problem solving and concentration.
A well-chosen puzzle can provide hours of entertainment and learning opportunities for your child.
By the way, take a trip down memory lane with the grateful house’s massive puzzle. Give your kids a history lesson about the great toys of their childhood, some of which are still available today. Building this classic board game jigsaw puzzle will introduce your kids to a list of old games that you can all play together for more family fun. The grateful house’s puzzle: Art of Dulk analyses the conceptual evolution of wildlife morphology and contains subliminal messages about the environmental threat posed by climate change. Use this puzzle to start a conversation about ancient times, perhaps a century ago, depending on how old they are.
Happy Puzzling!!
